Connector and support for tables



Nov. 17, 1953 E. L. LINDMAN 2,659,640

CONNECTOR AND SUPPORT FOR TABLES Filed Dec. 14, 1949 l5 INVENTOR [RIC/r L L/NflM/ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR AND SUPPORT FOR TABLES Erick L. Lindman, Washington, D. 0.

Application December 14, 1949, Serial No. 132,815

2 Claims.

This invention is a connector and support for tables, having particular association with familiar card tables.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a connector and support of such character and construction that two or more card tables may be joined end to end or in abutting relationship and rigidly held together and firmly supported and stabilized in such joined position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector and support of such character as to be quickly applied to and removed from the tables without in any way aiiecting the construction or operation of the standard tables.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector and support which is of such construction as to aiiord the greatest possible amount of leg room when in use upon the tables, and which, when not in use, may be easily detached from the tables and so collapsed as to be conveniently stored away for future use.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view, parts broken away, showing a pair of conventional card tables joined end to end or in abutting relationship by a connector and support embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through one of the card tables and showing the supporting leg in operative position,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clamping plates used in carrying out the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the companion clamping plate.

In carrying out the invention, the connector or support is preferably formed of a pair of straight legs of uniform length hinged together intermediate their ends. When in operative position, these legs are extended or spread into substantially X form, the upper ends of the legs being engaged with the abutting edges of the card tables and clamped thereto so as to support the said meeting edges of the table in proper alignment. When in inoperative position, the legs may be folded upon themselves, as will be understood, so as to be capable of being stored away in a minimum of space.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 and I represent the top portions of con ventional card tables, each of which is equipped with the customary depending apron 8, to which are hingedly connected the upper ends of the supporting legs 9, the hinge connections being indicated at It]. It will be understood that these legs may be swung to upright position when the tables are being used individually so as to support the latter, but when not in use they fold within the bottom of the table as will be understood.

The combined connector and support of the present invention includes a pair of legs H of equal length, and these legs may be formed of wood or light metal as desired. These legs are pivoted together as at l2 intermediate their ends so as to be capable of being swung upon one another in collapsed or inoperative position, or may be extended or swung outwardly to operative position to assume substantially X form, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. The length of the legs is such as when extended to operative position their upper ends will rest beneath and support the aprons 8 of the abutting edges of the tables 6 and 1, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In order that the extended legs may be firmly engaged with the table aprons so as to hold the latter rigidly in assembled relationship, the upper ends of the said legs II are equipped with clamping plates 13 and I4. The plate 13 is permanently attached at one end as by a screw I5 to one side of the leg II, While the plate I4 is removably secured to the opposite side of the said leg. The plate [4 is provided near its lower end with inturned flanges I6 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the breadth of the leg I I so as to embrace the latter. The plate It is provided with an opening I! to register with a similar opening I8 in the plate 13. A bolt [9 extends through the aligned openings l1|8, and a wing nut 20 is engaged with the threads at the opposite or protruding end of the bolt. The lengths of the clamping plates l3 and M are such that they project beyond the upper end of the leg with which they are connected, and engage upon the inner faces of the abutting aprons 8, whereupon the wing nuts are tightened so as to bring the plates into tight clamping engagement therewith. Under ordinary circumstances, such clamping action will be sufiicient to securely hold the abutting tables in proper or aligned relationship and will act as a rigid support and stabilizer for the cornbined tables. It will be understood, of course,

3 that the adjacent legs 9 of the table will remain in folded relationship immediately below the table top, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In order to lend rigidity to the structure, it may be found desirable to anchor the ends of the clamping plates to the aprons 8 of the tables. Clevises 2| of light gauge metal are secured as by rivets 22 to the inner face of each of the aprons 8 of the table. These clevises are arranged one at each .end of a table and are so bent as shown in Fig. 1 as to provide recesses to receive the upper ends of the clamping plates I3 and Id. The edges of the plates I3 and 14 may be cut away or sloped as at 23 so as to lie flush with the abutments provided by the clevises 2|. When so engaged in the clevises and with the wing .nuts 29 tightened, it is obvious that the connector and support will be rigidly held to the table aprons and the clevises will assist in stabilizing the structure.

As a further means of strengthening or reenforcing the structure, one of the legs H may have pivotally secured theretoas at 24 one end of a link 25, the free .end of which is provided with a hook as shown for engagement with a pin 26. The link 25 is so positioned .and of such length .as when engaged by its hook with a .pin 26, a rigid connector is established between the legs I l to obviate the possibility of any spreading action when the table is subjected to weight.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the meeting edges of a pair of tables may be easily and adequately supported by the connector by simple operations. The construction of the supporting leg is such that when properly positioned and securely fastened rigidity of the tables in assembled .relationship is secured. The construction of the connector leg is such as to afford the maximum of leg room for those seated at the table and in the immediate vicinity of the connector structure. .In the present illustration, the connector is shown .in association with but a pair of tables, however. it will be understood that similar connector legs may be used with any number of tables should it .be desired to connect a plurality of such tables together.

I claim:

1. A connector for a pair of tables arranged in abutting relationship and having depending aprons at their adjacent edges, comprising a pair of legs hingedly connected together inwardly from their ends, said legs being of a thickness substantially equal to the combined thicknesses of said aprons and movable to a position to be engaged at their upper ends in direct supporting contact therewith, and clamping members rigidly secured to the opposite side faces of said legs and projecting beyond the ends of the latter to clampingly engage the opposite faces of said aprons.

2. A connector for a pair of tables arranged in abutting relationship and having depending aprons at their adjacent edges, comprising a pair of legs hingedly connected together inwardly from their ends, said legs being of a thickness substantially equal to the combined thicknesses of said aprons .and movable to a position for the .upper ends of said legs to engage directly in .supporting contact with said aprons, clamping members secured to the opposite side faces of vsaid legs and projecting beyond the ends of the latter to engage the opposite faces of said aprons, and means for moving said members in .clampingengagement with said aprons.

ERICK L. LINDMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 483,460 Lindsay Sept. 2'7, 1892 505,252 Phillips Sept. '19, 1893 919,542 Dain Apia-2'1, 1909 1,470,120 Schaefer Oct. 9, 1923 1,719,039 Alexander July2, 1929 1,820,103 Toy Aug. '25, 1931 1,942,603 Johanson Jan. 9, 1934 2,213,828 Thomas Sept. 3, 1940 2,489,933 Schwarz, Jr Nov. 29, 1949 

